Coat Question

[BG and Gavin]

It appears that Gavin is shedding his puppy coat. He is 5.5 months old. The long cream softer hair about his body is coming out in clumps and in the brush. What is replacing it is coarser darker gold hair that is wavy and not as soft to the touch. The coat change seemed to start at the tail which is thick and wavy with no plume and spread down the back toward the head. It is now moving down toward the belly. His head neck and chest are soft and wavy and remain cream coloured (except for his golden ears). Long stray cream hairs stick out randomly like a porcupine. Anyone with this experience? I can't wait to see how he turns out. Hopefully the mad shedding is just temporary. It's different than shedding I've seen with other dogs because it comes out in clumps. He is not leaving a trail of hair where ever he goes so it has been easy to clean up. Feedback would be welcomed!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Gosh, never heard of it coming out in clumps, but I guess anything is possible with these doods. The Grooming Group may have more infor for you.

[Karen & Lucy]

Also, 5.5 months is early, I think, but than what do I know Hahahahaha. Lucy's fur came out in, what i call, furballs. Not clumps though. I would find these "furballs" all over the house. The adult coat is not as soft as the puppy coat though. Yes, post this in the grooming group and you will get some "real" expert advice ;-)

[BG and Gavin]

I guess its not really clumps, more like furballs (dust bunnies) around the house. Thanks for the advice on the grooming thread to you and Sue.

[Azure & Muppet]

The coat changes you described sound similar to what happened with our puppy (he did shed more, but not in clumps). Our dog is a miniature goldendoodle and his coat started to change when he was around 5 months old. I wrote a detailed description about it in another discussion that you can read here if you like:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/almondblossomdoodles/forum/topics...

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks for the link. It sounds just like what is happening with Gavin. Now that you dog is older is he still shedding?

[Azure & Muppet]

He's about 10 months now, and he does still shed a little, but not much.
It's much less than when his coat was changing.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned began his coat change at about 6 months (could have been 5.5) He began at the ears and the change has moved throughout his body. We are now at the feet. When I brush, I have gotten clumps. Ned doesn't shed at all however so we have to actually brush the puppy hair out. His new hair is lighter, coarser, kinkier. He is almost done with the change and mostly when I brush/comb now we get some hair mixed with little tiny knots. He is 22 months old.

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks for your reply. So for you the shedding wasn't a permanent thing - I guess that is my only concern.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri is 9 months and we are going thru it also. It helps to brush them on a daily basis. Since I have been doing that, I have minimized the furballs around the house. Also, your Gavin will probably start to matt in a few months. Peri started overnight - behind the ears, arms, etc.... About to go brush her right now!!!

[BG and Gavin]

Doodle bunnies. Yes that's it! lol
I am brushing nearly every day. It's changing over fast!

[shelly]

I LOVE that phrase! "Doodle bunnies" - LOL. Yes Tori was late in her coat change- over one year old. She tends to look and act more like the Australian shepherd side, so I guess that's why she sheds her little "doodle-bunnies". But it beats having a dog that sheds all over clothing and furniture. And- it's really only a lot during the change of seasons here in N, the rest of the year is not bad at all. And - it never comes off her when we pet her either..

[Alenka King]

My Lucy started to shed like crazy at around 5 months. When we got her she had couple of inches long soft hair. All of her puppy hair fell out in clumps and she was left with very short hair. Her hair started to grow back much later. First it was coarse and now it turned to be soft again. Her hair grows in stages. First it grow on her back and her tail. For a long time that was it. So I was worried that she won't have long hair all over her body. Just now that she is almost 10 monts old her hair started to grow on her head and her legs. She sheds very lightly. I hope it helped.,